Amid ongoing discussions over alleged violations of the transfer and posting policy at Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB), further allegations of administrative irregularities have surfaced against the bank’s Acting Managing Director (MD) and Deputy Managing Director (DMD), Golam Mortuza.
The allegations include the alleged residential use of two rooms on the 10th floor of the bank’s head office, irregular attendance at the workplace, travel between Dhaka and Rajshahi by air, and conducting official activities at the office at night outside regular working hours.
Several bank officials have also alleged bias in the transfer and posting of officers and employees and claimed that certain officials have been given preferential treatment. However, these allegations could not be independently verified.
Attempts were made to obtain comments from Acting MD Golam Mortuza regarding the allegations, but he did not respond.
According to sources at the bank, Mortuza was seen working at the bank’s head office on the night of August 9, a day after reports were published on August 8 regarding alleged violations of RAKUB’s transfer and posting policy.
Bank officials have questioned whether an Acting MD has any written authorization or specific administrative provision allowing him to conduct official activities at the office outside regular working hours.
When a reporter visited RAKUB’s head office that night to inquire about the matter, security personnel did not allow entry into the building. Several attempts were subsequently made to contact Golam Mortuza by phone, but he did not answer.
Alleged Residential Use of Office Rooms
Several sources within the bank have alleged that two rooms on the 10th floor of RAKUB’s head office are being used for residential purposes by Golam Mortuza and General Manager Tazuddin Ahmed. The sources further claimed that the rooms are occasionally used for overnight stays.
The allegations have prompted questions over whether any authorization exists for using official rooms at the head office of a state-owned bank as residential accommodation. If such authorization exists, officials have called for disclosure of the relevant rules, the approving authority and the applicable office order.
Some bank officials have also demanded that relevant records from the administration department, approval documents concerning use of the building and any related office orders be made public.
Questions Over Official Travel Expenses
There are also allegations that DMD Golam Mortuza does not regularly remain at his assigned workplace and travels between Dhaka and Rajshahi by air.
This has raised questions about how his airfares, accommodation and other travel-related expenses are being covered. If such expenses have been paid from bank funds, officials believe that the relevant travel bills, vouchers, approvals and stated purposes of the official trips should be examined.
However, no conclusion can be reached regarding these allegations without reviewing the bank’s financial and administrative records.
Earlier Allegations Over Transfer and Posting Policy
Earlier, allegations were raised that RAKUB’s Transfer and Posting Policy for Officers and Employees-2023 was not being followed.
The bank has recently transferred around one hundred officers and employees to different locations. According to several officials, however, different standards were allegedly applied to some officers who had remained at the same station for a long period or were considered influential.
The complainants alleged that some officials were allowed to remain at the same station for extended periods and were repeatedly assigned to different positions within the same area. At the same time, some officials holding important responsibilities were allegedly transferred to distant or comparatively less significant branches.
Whether these transfers were made for administrative reasons, based on professional competence, promotion or the interests of the institution can only be determined by examining the relevant transfer orders, previous postings, length of service and the limits prescribed under the applicable policy.
Some bank officials have further alleged that certain employees perceived as being associated with particular political ideologies, or as not being close to the current administration, were removed from important responsibilities. Conversely, they alleged that several officials considered influential were given favorable postings.
These claims, however, remain allegations and require independent verification through official records.
Previous Allegations Reportedly Raised Against Mortuza
Reports published in the past have also referred to the presence of Golam Mortuza and Tazuddin Ahmed in activities associated with the Bangabandhu Parishad while they were serving at Rupali Bank. A report published in July 2022, for example, mentioned Mortuza’s presence at an event organized by the Rupali Bank Bangabandhu Parishad. Reports stated that the two officials had been appointed as advisers to the organization.
Separately, a document concerning a previous allegation against Golam Mortuza, reportedly dating from the period when he was serving as DMD of Janata Bank, has reportedly come into the possession of the reporter.
According to a report published on October 30, 2024, a woman had accused Mortuza of establishing an alleged intimate relationship with her after allegedly promising to marry her. The report also referred to documents purportedly containing information about air travel to and from Cox’s Bazar and a stay at a resort in Narsingdi.
Mortuza denied the allegations, according to that report, and claimed that photographs cited in connection with the allegations had been created using artificial intelligence technology. The same report also claimed that Bangladesh Bank was investigating the matter at the time.
The allegations mentioned in that earlier report should not be treated as established facts unless independently verified through relevant records or the findings of a competent investigation.
Need for Documentary Verification
As RAKUB is a state-owned bank, transparency and compliance with administrative rules are particularly important in matters involving the attendance of a senior executive, official travel funded by public money, residential facilities, use of office premises and the transfer and posting of officers and employees.
The allegations against Golam Mortuza therefore warrant examination of the relevant administrative orders, attendance records, travel bills, vouchers, approval documents, building-use permissions and transfer records.
Attempts were made several times to obtain comments from Golam Mortuza by telephone. He did not respond. A message containing questions was also sent to him through WhatsApp, but no response was received.
If his response is received, it should be incorporated into any subsequent report in accordance with standard journalistic practice.
Given the series of allegations surrounding a senior official of a state-owned bank, the most appropriate course would be to determine the facts through examination of relevant documents and, where necessary, an impartial administrative inquiry, rather than treating the allegations as established facts or dismissing them solely as the result of personal disputes or bias.